NCAA Basketball: Power ranking top 10 team defenses of 2022-23 season

2. UCLA Bruins

Under Mick Cronin, the Bruins are stifling opponents and lead in almost every defensive category in the PAC-12. UCLA is currently holding their opponents to 59.4 points per game (7th nationally) while forcing them to shoot 40.6% from the field (32nd nationally) and 30.7% from deep (34th nationally).

The Bruins play clean on defense as they are committing 15.3 fouls per game (56th nationally), forcing teams to commit 16.56 turnovers per game (16th nationally), and averaging 8.7 steals per game (26th nationally).

Jaylen Clark and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have been the anchors on defense this year for the Bruins. Clark has been pickpocketing players all season long as he rates 4th nationally with 2.65 steals per game while Jaquez Jr. is generating 1.65 steals per game. Jaquez Jr. ranks in the top half of the PAC-12 with 5.37 defensive rebounds per game and is 77th nationally for a total of 218 rebounds. Adem Bona is 62nd nationally with 1.58 blocks per game.

1. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee has this season’s most complete defense as Rick Barnes has his Volunteers leading the nation in several key defensive categories.

The Volunteers claim college basketball’s top ranking for field goal percentage defense (35.8% per game) and 3-point percentage defense (24.9% per game). With opponents shooting poorly against Tennessee, it’s no wonder the Volunteers are holding opponents to 56.7 points per game (3rd nationally). Tennessee also is generating 8.7 steals per game (27th nationally) and 15.52 turnovers per game (32nd nationally). Also, Tennessee ranks 3rd in the SEC for grabbing 26.07 defensive boards per game (84th nationally).

Zakai Zeigler leads Tennessee with 2.00 steals per game (40th nationally) while Santiago Vescovi averages 1.96 steals per game (54th nationally). Oliver Nkamahoua and Santiago Vescovi lead the Volunteers with a combined 186 defensive rebounds.